Federal regulations require that schools monitor the academic progress of each recipient of financial assistance and confirm that the recipient is making satisfactory academic progress towards earning a degree in his/her program of study. Standards of the William Peace University (WPU) SAP policy for financial aid purposes regarding cumulative attempted hours and cumulative GPA follow the University’s established requirements for satisfactory academic progression. It is each student’s responsibility to familiarize him/herself with the academic SAP standards in effect at the start of their matriculation at WPU and to monitor their progress to ensure s/he remain in compliance at all times. Institutions must establish Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress involving qualitative (cumulative grade point average), quantitative (hours earned compared to hours attempted) and a maximum length of study. This requirement applies to all applicants for Federal assistance, Federal Pell Grants; Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG); Federal Work-Study; the Federal Direct Loan Program, which includes the Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans for students; and Federal PLUS Loans for parents of undergraduate students. The same standards apply to all assistance from William Peace University, the State of North Carolina and all other aid administered by the Office of Financial Aid. If students have obtained a scholarship, grant, or loan from any other source, they are encouraged to contact that source regarding their academic progress requirements.
The Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid To be eligible for financial aid at William Peace University, whether or not aid was received in the past, students must be in compliance with all three of the following areas: cumulative GPA, cumulative hours earned and maximum length of study. I. Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) Qualitative Requirement Students must maintain the following minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA), based on credits attempted established by WPU for satisfactory progress toward graduation requirements. Please refer to the academic catalog that correlates with the academic year in which the student’s matriculation started at WPU. The standards indicated in the chart below are consistent with academic standards required for graduation. Cumulative GPA Requirement for Financial Aid Hours Attempted
Required Cumulative GPA
0-29
1.7
30-59
1.8
60+
2.00
II. Hours Earned Compared to Hours Attempted Pace (Quantitative) Requirement Each student must also be making satisfactory progress toward the completion of a degree. Satisfactory progress toward graduation is measured in terms of total academic credits earned. We recommend students attempt to average 30 earned hours per academic year in order to graduate in four years for programs that require 120 credit hours. To remain eligible for financial aid, students must earn at least 67% of total hours attempted each semester. For financial aid purposes, the following definitions and conditions apply: To earn hours at William Peace University, students must receive a grade of A, B, C, D, or P in a credit bearing course. All other grades, including F, I, W, or AU do not earn credit hours.
234 | 2022-2023 William Peace University Academic Catalog
